Liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels having first and second subpixels, a plurality of gate lines connected to the first and second subpixels to transmit gate signals, a plurality of first data lines intersecting the gate lines and connected to the first subpixels to transmit first data voltages, and a plurality of second data lines intersecting the gate lines and connected to the second subpixels to transmit second data voltages. The first and second data voltages have different sizes and are obtained from single image information. Each pixel is divided into a pair of subpixels, and different data voltages are applied to the subpixels through two different data lines, so that it is possible to secure a wide viewing angle and improve side visibility.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0007124, filed on Jan. 26, 2005 and all the benefits accruingtherefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, and the contents of which in itsentirety are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thin film transistor (“TFT”) paneland a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) apparatus. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a TFT panel and an LCD apparatus capable ofimproving side visibility without a decrease in transmittance.

(b) Description of the Related Art

An LCD apparatus, which is one of the most widely used flat paneldisplay apparatuses, includes two panels having electric fieldgenerating electrodes, such as pixel electrodes and a common electrode,and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The LCD apparatusdisplays an image by applying a voltage to the electric field generatingelectrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer anddetermining alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystallayer to control polarization of incident light. In the LCD apparatus,by applying the voltage to the two electrodes to generate the electricfield in the liquid crystal layer, a desired image is obtained byadjusting an intensity of the electric field to adjust transmittance oflight passing through the liquid crystal layer. At this time, in orderto prevent a deterioration phenomena caused by applying the electricfield to the liquid crystal layer in one direction for an extended time,the polarities of the data voltages with respect to the common voltageare inverted in units of a frame, a row, or a pixel.

Among such LCD apparatuses, an LCD apparatus with a vertical alignmentmode, in which liquid crystal molecules are arranged such that majoraxes of the liquid crystal molecules are perpendicular to the upper andlower panels in a state when no electric field is generated, is ofinterest, since it has a high contrast ratio and can easily provide awide reference viewing angle. Here, the reference viewing angle means aviewing angle having a contrast ratio of 1:10 or an effective angle ininversion of brightness between gray scales.

Methods of embodying a wide viewing angle in an LCD apparatus with avertical alignment mode include a method of forming apertures in theelectric field generating electrodes and a method of forming protrusionson the electric field generating electrodes. Since the direction inwhich the liquid crystal molecules are tilted can be determined by theuse of the apertures and the protrusions, the reference viewing anglecan be widened by variously arranging the apertures and the protrusionsto distribute the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules invarious directions.

However, the LCD apparatus with a vertical alignment mode has sidevisibility lower than front visibility. For example, in the case of anLCD apparatus with a patterned vertical alignment (“PVA”) mode havingapertures, an image becomes brighter toward the side, and in some cases,the difference in brightness between high gray scales may disappearrendering the profile of the image vague.

In order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a technique forproviding different transmittances by dividing one pixel into twosubpixels, coupling the two subpixels in a capacitive manner, andproviding different voltages to the two subpixels by directly applying avoltage to the one subpixel and dropping a voltage in the other subpixeldue to the capacitive coupling.

However, in the above technique, the transmittances of the two subpixelscannot be accurately adjusted.

In particular, the transmittances of different colors of light aredifferent from each other. However, it is difficult to obtain differentvoltage combinations for different colors. In addition, since conductivemembers for the capacitive coupling must be added, an aperture ratiodeteriorates and, due to a voltage drop caused by the capacitivecoupling, the transmittance decreases.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a TFT panel and an LCD apparatus capableof improving side visibility without a decrease in transmittance.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there isprovided an LCD apparatus including a plurality of pixels having firstand second subpixels, a plurality of gate lines connected to the firstand second subpixels to transmit gate signals to the first and secondsubpixels, a plurality of first data lines intersecting the gate linesand connected to the first subpixels to transmit first data voltages tothe first subpixels, and a plurality of second data lines intersectingthe gate lines and connected to the second subpixels to transmit seconddata voltages to the second subpixels, wherein the first and second datavoltages have different sizes and are obtained from single imageinformation.

In the above described exemplary embodiments of the present invention,each of the first subpixels may include a first switching deviceconnected to a gate line and a first data line and a first subpixelelectrode connected to the first switching device, and each of thesecond subpixels includes a second switching device connected to thegate line and a second data line and a second subpixel electrodeconnected to the second switching device.

In addition, at least one of the first and second subpixel electrodesmay have an aperture.

In addition, the first subpixel and the second subpixel may furtherinclude a common electrode facing the first and second subpixelelectrodes.

In addition, the common electrode may have an aperture or a protrusion.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a shieldingelectrode, at least a portion of the shielding electrode may overlap thefirst and second data lines and may be electrically insulated from thefirst and second data lines.

In addition, an area of the first subpixel electrode may be differentfrom an area of the second subpixel electrode.

In addition, at least one of the first and second data lines may bedisposed between the first and second subpixel electrodes.

In addition, a ratio of a transverse length and a longitudinal length ofeach pixel may be substantially equal to 1:3.

In addition, the first subpixel and the second subpixel are arranged ina transverse direction and a transverse length of the first subpixelsmay be different from a transverse length of the second subpixels.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include first and secondcolor filters facing the first and second subpixel electrodesrespectively, wherein the first and second color filters have the samecolor.

In addition, the first and second data lines may be disposed at oppositesides of each pixel.

In addition, the first and second data voltages may have the samepolarity.

In addition, the first and second data voltages may have oppositepolarities.

In addition, the first and second data lines may be disposed adjacent asame side of each pixel.

In addition, the first and second data voltages may have the samepolarity.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a bridge wireconnected between the second data line and the second switching device,wherein the second data line is farther from the pixel than the firstdata line.

In addition, the bridge wire and the gate line may comprise the samemetal layer, and the bridge wire may be connected to a portion of thesecond data line and an end of the second switching device throughconductive members including the same metal layer as the first andsecond subpixel electrodes.

In addition, the second data line may include a first portion and asecond portion separated from each other, and ends of the first andsecond portions of the second data line may overlap a first end portionof the bridge wire.

In addition, a second end portion of the bridge wire may be overlappedby a source electrode of the second switching device.

In addition, each pixel may have a substantially rectangular shape, andthe first and second subpixels may each have a substantiallynon-rectangular shape.

In addition, the first subpixel electrode may have a shape nested withina shape of the second subpixel electrode, and a gap may separate thefirst subpixel electrode from the second subpixel electrode.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a storage electrodeline substantially parallel to the gate line, wherein the first subpixelelectrode is connected to the first switching device via a first contacthole positioned at a location corresponding to the storage electrodeline, and the second subpixel electrode is connected to the secondswitching device via a second contact hole positioned between thestorage electrode line and the gate line.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may be driven at a same frequency as afrequency of an input image signal of the image information.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a signal controllerprocessing the image information and generating first and second imagesignals, and a data driver applying the first and second data voltagescorresponding to the first and second image signals to the first andsecond data lines, respectively.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a plurality ofpixels, and a pair of data lines positioned between each pair ofadjacent pixels.

According to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thereis provided an LCD apparatus including gate lines extending in a firstdirection, first and second data lines extending in a second directionand separated from each other, first TFTs connected to the gate linesand the first data lines, second TFTs connected to the gate lines andthe second data lines, and first and second display electrodes connectedto the first and second TFTs respectively, wherein a second directionlength of the second display electrode is larger than a first directionlength of the first display electrode, and the first display electrodeis located within the second direction length of the second displayelectrode.

In the above aspect of the present invention, the first and seconddisplay electrodes may have slanted sides facing each other.

In addition, the first display electrode may have a shape nested withina shape of the second display electrode.

In addition, at least one of the first and second display electrodes mayhave an aperture.

In addition, the LCD apparatus may further include a third displayelectrode facing the first and second display electrodes.

In addition, the third display electrode may have an aperture or aprotrusion.

In addition, each of the first and second display electrodes may has asubstantially symmetrical shape with respect to a straight lineextending in the first direction.

In addition, the first and second data lines may be disposed at oppositesides of the pixel electrode in the second direction thereof.

In addition, the first and second data lines may be disposed adjacent asame side of the pixel electrode in the second direction thereof.

In addition, an area of the first display electrode may be differentfrom an area of the second display electrode.

According to still other exemplary embodiments of the present invention,there is provided an LCD apparatus including a plurality of pixels eachhaving first and second subpixels, a plurality of gate lines connectedto the first and second subpixels to transmit gate signals, and aplurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines and connected to thefirst subpixels to transmit data voltages, wherein the data voltagesapplied to the first and second subpixels within each pixel havedifferent magnitudes and the same polarity and are obtained from singleimage information.

According to further still other exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, there is provided an LCD apparatus including a plurality ofpixels each having first and second subpixels, a plurality of gate linesconnected to the first and second subpixels to transmit gate signals, aplurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines and connected to thefirst subpixels to transmit data voltages, wherein the data voltagesapplied to the first and second subpixels have different magnitudes andopposite polarities and are obtained from single image information.

In either of the two above described exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, the polarities of data voltages applied to the firstand second subpixels may be inverted every row or column of pixels.

In addition, the plurality of data lines may include first and seconddata lines connected to the first and second subpixels, respectively.

In addition, the first and second data lines for each pixel may bedisposed at opposite sides of each pixel. Alternatively, the first andsecond data lines for each pixel may be disposed at a same side of eachpixel. In yet another alternative embodiment, one of the first andsecond data lines may be disposed between the first and second subpixelelectrodes of each pixel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first exemplary embodiment of an LCDapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an exemplary pixel ofthe first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing exemplary subpixels ofthe first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thefirst exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary common electrode panelfor the first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a layout of the first exemplary embodiment ofan LCD apparatus constructed with the exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 4 andthe exemplary common electrode panel of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross sectional views showing the LCD apparatustaken along lines VIIA-VIIA′ and VIIB-VIIB′ of FIG. 6 respectively;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a polarity state of the exemplarypixel electrode of the first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a second exemplary embodiment of anLCD apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thesecond exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary common electrodepanel for the second exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a layout of the second exemplary embodiment ofan LCD apparatus constructed with the exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 10 andthe exemplary common electrode panel of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view showing the LCD apparatus taken alongline XIII-XIII′ of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a polarity state of the exemplary pixelelectrode of the second exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a third exemplary embodiment of anLCD apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thethird exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary common electrodepanel for the third exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a layout of the third exemplary embodiment ofan LCD apparatus constructed with the exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 16 andthe exemplary common electrode panel of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the LCD apparatus taken alongline XIX-XIX′ of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”another element, it can be directly on the other element or interveningelements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element isreferred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includesany and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus,a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed belowcould be termed a second element, component, region, layer or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations fromthe shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, ofmanufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus,embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limitedto the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are toinclude deviations in shapes that result, for example, frommanufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flatmay, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharpangles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the attached drawings such thatthe present invention can be easily put into practice by those skilledin the art.

In the drawings, thicknesses are enlarged for the purpose of clearlyillustrating layers and areas.

Now, a TFT panel and an LCD apparatus according to the present inventionwill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first exemplary embodiment of an LCDapparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an equivalentcircuit diagram showing an exemplary pixel of the first exemplaryembodiment of an LCD apparatus according to the present invention, andFIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an exemplary subpixel ofthe first exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel assembly300, a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected to the LCD panelassembly 300, a grayscale voltage generator 800 connected to the datadriver 500, and a signal controller 600 for controlling the components.

As seen in the equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the LCD panelassembly 300 includes a lower panel 100 as a TFT panel, an upper panel200 as a common electrode panel, where the panels 100 and 200 face eachother, and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposed therebetween. The LCDpanel 300 further includes a plurality of pixels PX which are connectedto a plurality of signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) and arearrayed substantially in a matrix on the lower panel 100.

The display signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) include aplurality of gate lines G₁ to G_(n) for transmitting gate signals(sometimes referred to as “scan signals”) and a plurality of data linesD₁ to D_(2m) for transmitting data signals. The gate lines G₁ to G_(n)extend substantially parallel to each other substantially in a rowdirection, and the data lines D₁ to D_(2m) extend substantially parallelto each other substantially in a column direction. Therefore, the datalines D₁ to D_(2m) extend substantially perpendicular to the gate linesG₁ to G_(n). The data lines D₁ to D_(2m) are insulated from the gatelines G₁ to G_(n) as will be further described below.

Each of the data lines D₁ to D_(2m) is disposed at one side of one pixelPX. That is, each pixel PX is flanked by a pair of data lines, such thateach pixel PX includes two data lines positioned on opposite sides, andtwo data lines are positioned between each adjacent pair of pixels PX.In addition to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n) and the data lines D₁ toD_(2m), the display signal lines may include storage electrode lines, aswill be further described below, which extend substantially parallel tothe gate lines G₁ to G_(n) within each pixel region.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the pixels PX includes a pair of subpixelsPXa and PXb, and the subpixels PXa and PXb include switching devices Qaand Qb connected to the corresponding gate line G_(i) and the data linesD_(j) and D_(j+1), and liquid crystal capacitors C_(LCa) and C_(LCb) andstorage capacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb) connected to the switchingdevices, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, the storage capacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb)may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of subpixels PXa and PXb are connected tothe same gate line G_(i), but the subpixels PXa and PXb may be connectedto different adjacent data lines D_(j) and D_(j+1). The subpixel PXa isconnected to a data line on a first side of the pixel PX, and thesubpixel PXb is connected to a data line on a second side of the pixelPX, opposite the first side.

The TFTs, such as switching devices Qa and Qb, are disposed on the lowerpanel 100 and are three-port devices. Control and input ports,corresponding to gate and source electrodes, of the switching devices Qaand Qb are connected to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n) and the data lines D₁to D_(2m), and an output port thereof, corresponding to a drainelectrode, is connected to the liquid crystal capacitors C_(LCa) andC_(LCb) and the storage capacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb).

As shown in FIG. 3, two of the ports of the liquid crystal capacitorC_(LCa) of the subpixel PXa are a subpixel electrode 190 a of the lowerpanel 100 and a common electrode 270 of the upper panel 200, and theliquid crystal layer 3 interposed between the two electrodes 190 a and270 serves as a dielectric member. The subpixel electrode 190 a isconnected to the switching device Qa, such as to the output port/drainelectrode of the switching device Qa, and the common electrode 270 isdisposed in front of the upper panel 200 to receive a common voltageV_(com). Although not illustrated, the common electrode 270 mayalternatively be disposed to the lower panel 100, and in this case, atleast one of the two electrodes 190 a and 270 may be formed in a shapeof a line or a bar.

The storage capacitor C_(STa), having an auxiliary function for theliquid crystal capacitor C_(LCa), is constructed by overlapping thesubpixel electrode 190 a and a separate signal line (not shown) providedto the lower panel 100 with an insulating member interposedtherebetween, and a predetermined voltage, such as the common voltageV_(com), is applied to the separate signal line. However, alternatively,the storage capacitor C_(STa) may be constructed by overlapping thesubpixel electrode 190 a and a front gate line disposed just above withan insulting member interposed therebetween.

In order to implement color display, each of the pixels uniquelydisplays one color (spatial division), or each of the pixels alternatelydisplays the colors according to time (time division). A desired colorcan be obtained by a spatial or time combination of the colors, thethree colors being red, green, and blue. While an example of a set ofthe colors includes red, green, and blue colors, it should be understoodthat alternate color sets may be employed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of spatial division. As shown in the figure,each of the pixels includes a color filter 230 for representing one ofthe colors, which is provided to a region of the upper panel 200. Eachsubpixel PXa and PXb may include a color filter. For example, first andsecond color filters 230 may face the first and second subpixelelectrodes 190 a and 190 b, and the first and second color filters 230may have the same color.

Alternatively, the color filter 230 may be provided above or under thesubpixel electrode 190 a of the lower panel 100.

A polarizer (not shown) for polarizing light is attached on at least oneof the outer surfaces of the two panels 100 and 200 of the LCD panelassembly 300. For example, first and second polarized films can adjust atransmission direction of light externally provided into the lower panel100 and the upper panel 200, respectively, in accordance with an aligneddirection of the liquid crystal layer 3. The first and second polarizedfilms may have first and second polarized axes thereof substantiallyperpendicular to each other, respectively.

Returning to FIG. 1, the grayscale voltage generator 800 generates twopairs of grayscale voltages associated with transmittance of thesubpixels PXa and PXb. One of the two pairs has a positive value withreference to the common voltage V_(com), and the other has a negativevalue with reference to the common voltage V_(com).

The gate driver 400 is connected to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n) of theLCD panel assembly 300 to apply gate signals formed in a combination ofa gate-on voltage V_(on) to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n).

The data driver 500 is connected to the data lines D₁ to D_(2m) of theLCD panel assembly 300 to select grayscale voltages, relating to theluminance of the LCD, from the grayscale voltage generator 800 and toapply the selected grayscale voltages to the subpixels PXa and PXb asdata signals. The data driver 500 applies the gray voltages, which areselected for each data line D₁ to D_(2m), by control of the signalcontroller 600, to the data lines D₁ to D_(2m) respectively as a datasignal.

The gate driver 400 and the data driver 500 may be directly mounted in aform of a plurality of driving integrated circuit (“IC”) chips on theLCD panel assembly 300. Alternatively, the gate driver 400 and the datadriver 500 may be attached in a form of a tape carrier package (“TCP”)on a flexible printed circuit (“FPC”) film (not shown) in the LCD panelassembly 300. Alternatively, the gate driver 400 and the data driver 500may be directly mounted on the LCD panel assembly 300.

The signal controller 600 controls operations of the gate driver 400,the data driver 500, and the like.

Now, a structure of the LCD apparatus will be further described withreference to FIGS. 4 to 7B.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thefirst exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention, FIG. 5 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary commonelectrode panel for the first exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a view showing alayout of the first exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus constructedwith the exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 4 and the exemplary commonelectrode panel of FIG. 5. FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross sectional viewsshowing the LCD apparatus taken along lines VIIA-VIIA′ and VIIB-VIIB′ ofFIG. 6, respectively.

The LCD apparatus includes a TFT panel 100 and a common electrode panel200 which face each other and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposedbetween the two panels 100 and 200.

First, the TFT panel 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6,7A, and 7B.

A plurality of gate lines 121 and a plurality of storage electrode lines131 are disposed on a dielectric substrate 110 made of a transparentglass or the like, such as other transparent insulating materials.

The gate lines 121 mainly extend in a first direction, such as alongitudinal direction, are separated from each other and transmit gatesignals. Each of the gate lines 121 includes a plurality of protrusionsconstituting a plurality of gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b and an endportion 129 having a wide area for connection to other layers orexternal apparatuses. The gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b may be spacedapart such that the gate electrode 124 a is positioned adjacent a firstside of the pixel PX and the gate electrode 124 b is positioned adjacenta second side of the pixel PX. However, the gate electrodes 124 a and124 b may be positioned differently than illustrated.

The storage electrode lines 131 extend mainly in the first direction,such as the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the gatelines 121, and include a plurality of protrusions constituting storageelectrodes 133 a and 133 b.

The storage electrode 133 a is in a shape of a rectangle and hassymmetry about the storage electrode line 131, and the storage electrode133 b extends in a transverse direction protruding from the storageelectrode line 131, and has an extension portion which further extendstherefrom. In other words, the storage electrode 133 b is positionedbetween the storage electrode line 131 and the gate line 121, with anextension portion extending further towards the gate line 121.

A predetermined voltage, such as a common voltage Vcom applied to thecommon electrode 270 of the common electrode panel 200 of the LCDapparatus, is also applied to the storage electrode line 131.

The gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 may be made of analuminum based metal such as, but not limited to, aluminum (Al) and analuminum alloy, a silver based metal such as silver (Ag) and a silveralloy, a copper based metal such as copper (Cu) and a copper alloy, amolybdenum based metal such as molybdenum (Mo) and a molybdenum alloy,chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), or tantalum (Ta).

Alternatively, the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131may have a multi-layered structure including two conductive layers (notshown) having different physical properties. In such a case, one of thetwo conductive layers would be made of a metal having a low resistivity,for example, an aluminum based metal, a silver based metal, or a copperbased metal, in order to reduce signal delay or voltage drop of the gatelines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131, and the other conductivelayer would be made of a material having good contactness to othermaterials, particularly, to indium tin oxide (“ITO”) and indium zincoxide (“IZO”), such as a molybdenum based metal, chromium, titanium, andtantalum.

As a preferred example of the combination, of the multi-layeredstructure may include a lower chromium layer and an upper aluminum layerand a lower aluminum layer and an upper molybdenum layer.

However, while particular examples have been described, it should beunderstood that the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131may be made of various metals and conductive materials.

In addition, side surfaces of the gate lines 121 and the storageelectrode lines 131 are inclined with respect to a surface of thesubstrate 110, and it is preferable that the slanted angle is in a rangeof about 30° to about 80°.

A gate insulating layer 140 made of a silicon nitride SiN_(x) or thelike is formed on the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines131, and may be further formed on the exposed portions of the substrate110 not covered by the gate lines 121 or the storage electrode lines131.

A plurality of line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 b made ofhydrogenated amorphous silicon (“a-Si”) are formed on the gateinsulating layer 140. The line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 bextend mainly in a second direction, such as a transverse directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality ofprotrusions 154 a and 154 b extend toward the gate electrodes 124 a and124 b and overlap the gate electrodes 124 a and 124 b.

A plurality of line-shaped and island-shaped ohmic contact members 161a, 161 b, 165 a, and 165 b made of a silicide or n+ hydrogenated a-Si,or the like, which are doped with n type impurities such as phosphorus(P), are formed on the line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 b. Theline-shaped ohmic contact members 161 a and 161 b have a plurality ofprotrusions 163 a and 163 b, respectively, and the protrusions 163 a and163 b and the island-shaped ohmic contact members 165 a and 165 bconstitute respective pairs and are disposed on the protrusions 154 aand 154 b of the line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 b. In otherwords, the protrusions 163 a and island-shaped ohmic contact members 165a are positioned in spaced locations on the protrusions 154 a, and theprotrusions 163 b and island-shaped ohmic contact members 165 b arepositioned in spaced locations on the protrusions 154 b.

Side surfaces of the semiconductors 151 a and 151 b and the ohmiccontact members 161 a, 161 b, 163 a, 163 b, 165 a, and 165 b are alsoslanted with respect to the surface of the substrate 110, and theslanted angle is in a range of about 30° to about 80°.

A plurality of data lines 171 a and 171 b and a plurality of drainelectrodes 175 a and 175 b, which are separated from the plurality ofdata lines 171 a and 171 b, are formed on the ohmic contact members 161a, 161 b, 165 a, and 165 b, respectively.

The data lines 171 a and 171 b extend mainly in the second direction,such as the transverse direction, to substantially perpendicularlyintersect the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 andapply the data voltages. The data lines 171 a and 171 b have a pluralityof source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, which overlap the protrusions 163a and 163 b of the line-shaped ohmic contact members 161 a and 161 b andextend toward the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b, and end portions 179a and 179 b, which have enlarged widths for connection to other layersor external apparatuses.

The drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b extend mainly in the transversedirection, parallel to the data lines 171 a and 171 b, and have enlargedportions 177 a and 177 b that overlap with the storage electrodes 133 aand 133 b. The sides of the enlarged portions 177 a and 177 b of thedrain electrodes 175 a and 175 b are substantially parallel to the sidesof the storage electrodes 133 a and 133 b. The gate electrodes 124 a and124 b, the source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, and the drain electrodes175 a and 175 b, together with the semiconductors 154 a and 154 b,constitute the TFTs Qa and Qb, respectively. Channels of the TFTs Qa andQb are formed on the semiconductors 154 a and 154 b between the sourceelectrodes 173 a and 173 b and the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b,respectively, and between the protrusions 163 a and 163 b and theisland-shaped ohmic contact members 165 a and 165 b.

The data lines 171 a and 171 b and the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 bare preferably made of chromium (Cr), a molybdenum (Mo) based metal, ora refractory metal such as tantalum (Ta) and titanium (Ti), and may havea multi-layered structure which is constructed with a lower layer (notshown) made of the refractory metal and an upper layer (not shown) madeof a low resistance material disposed thereon.

As an example of the multi-layered structure, in addition to theaforementioned two-layered structure of a lower chromium or molybdenumlayer and an upper aluminum layer, there may be a three-layeredstructure of a molybdenum layer/an aluminum layer/a molybdenum layer. Inthis structure, an interval between two adjacent data lines 171 a and171 b is maintained at a minimum interval by taking into considerationproduction capability and yield, so that a decrease in aspect ratioinvolved with an increase in the number of data lines 171 a and 171 bcan be minimized.

Similar to the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131, theside surfaces of the data lines 171 a and 171 b and the drain electrodes175 a and 175 b are slanted with respect to the substrate 110 at anangle ranging from about 30° to about 80°.

The ohmic contact members 161 a, 161 b, 163 a, 163 b, 165 a, and 165 bare interposed only between the underlying line-shaped semiconductors151 a and 151 b and protrusions 154 a and 154 b and the overlying datalines 171 a and 171 b, source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, and drainelectrodes 175 a and 175 b, and have a function of reducing contactresistance. The line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 b andprotrusions 154 a and 154 b have a shape which is substantially equal toor underlying the shapes of the data lines 171 a and 171 b, the sourceelectrodes 173 a and 173 b, the drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b, andthe ohmic contact members 161 a, 161 b, 163 a, 163 b, 165 a, and 165 b.However, the line-shaped semiconductors 151 a and 151 b have exposedportions uncovered between the source electrodes 173 a and 173 b and thedrain electrodes 175 a and 175 b and between the protrusions 163 a and163 b and the island shaped ohmic contact members 165 a and 165 b.

A protective film (passivation layer) 180 is formed on the data lines171 a and 171 b, the source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, the drainelectrodes 175 a and 175 b, and the exposed protrusions 154 a and 154 bof the semiconductors 151 a and 151 b. The protective film 180 is madeof an inorganic material such as a silicon nitride and a silicon oxide,an organic material having an excellent planarization property andphotosensitivity, and a low dielectric-constant insulating materialformed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (“PECVD”), such asa-Si:C:O and a-Si:O:F. However, in order to use the excellent propertiesof an organic film and to protect the exposed portions of theprotrusions 154 a and 154 b of the semiconductors 151 a and 151 b, theprotective film 180 may have a two-layered structure including a lowerinorganic film and an upper organic film.

In the protective film 180, a plurality of contact holes 185 a, 185 b,182 a, and 182 b which expose the enlarged portions 177 a and 177 b ofthe drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b and the end portions 179 a and 179b of the data lines 171 a and 171 b are formed. Also, a plurality ofcontact holes 181 which expose the end portions 129 of the gate lines121 are formed in the protective film 180 and the gate insulating layer140.

On the protective film 180, a plurality of pixel electrodes 190including the first and second subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b, aplurality of shielding electrodes 88, and a plurality of contactassistant members 81, 82 a, and 82 b are formed. The pixel electrodes190, the shielding electrodes 88, and the contact assistant members 81,82 a, and 82 b are made of a transparent conductive material such as ITOand IZO or a reflective conductive material such as aluminum.

The first and second subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b are physicallyand electrically connected through the contact holes 185 a and 185 b tothe drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b to receive data voltages from thedrain electrodes 175 a and 175 b. Different data voltages predeterminedwith respect to a single input image signal are applied to the pair ofthe subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b, and the magnitude of the datavoltages may be determined according to the sizes and shapes of thesubpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b. The subpixel electrodes 190 a and190 b may have different areas, for example, the subpixel electrode 190a may have a shape which is nested within, yet slightly spaced from, theshape of the subpixel electrode 190 b, as will be further describedbelow.

The subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b applied with the data voltages,together with the common electrode 270, generate electric fields, sothat alignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystallayer 3 between the two subpixel electrodes 190 a/ 190 b and the commonelectrode 270 can be determined.

The first and second subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and the commonelectrode 270 constitute capacitors (hereinafter, referred to as “liquidcrystal capacitors”) C_(LCa) and C_(LCb) to sustain the applied voltagesalthough the TFTs Qa and Qb turn off. In order to increase the voltagestorage capability, other capacitors connected in parallel to the liquidcrystal capacitors C_(LCa) and C_(LCb) are provided, and the capacitorsare called storage capacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb). The storagecapacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb) are constructed by overlapping the firstand second subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and the storage electrodeline 131. In order to increase electric capacitance of the storagecapacitors C_(STa) and C_(STb), that is, storage capacitance, storageelectrodes 133 a and 133 b are provided to the storage electrode line131 and overlapped with the enlarged portions 177 a and 177 b of thedrain electrodes 175 a and 175 b connected to the first and secondsubpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b through the first and second contactholes 185 a and 185 b, so that the distance between ports is reduced andthe overlapped area is enlarged.

The upper right corner of each pixel electrode 190, corresponding to subpixel electrode 190 b, is cut, and the cut side has an angle of about45° with respect to the gate line 121.

The pair of first and second subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b,constituting one pixel electrode 190, is engaged with each other with agap 93 interposed therebetween, and an outer boundary of the pixelelectrode 190 has a shape of an approximate rectangle. The firstsubpixel electrode 190 a has a shape of a rotated equilateral trapezoidwhich has a left side close to the storage electrode 133 a and extendingsubstantially parallel to the data line 171 a, a right side oppositethereto and extending substantially parallel to the data line 171 b, andupper and lower slanted sides having an angle of about 45° with respectto the gate lines 121. The upper and lower slanted sides of the firstsubpixel electrode 190 a may be substantially perpendicular to eachother. The second subpixel electrode 190 b has a pair of trapezoidalportions facing the slanted sides of the first subpixel electrode 190 aand a transverse portion facing the right side of the first subpixelelectrode 190 a. In addition, the gap 93 includes upper and lowerslanted portions 93 a and 93 b, having substantially uniform widths andan angle of about 45° with respect to the gate lines 121, and atransverse portion 93 c also having a substantially uniform width. Thetransverse portion 93 c includes a first end and a second end, where theupper slanted portion 93 a extends from the first end of the transverseportion 93 c and the lower slanted portion 93 b extends from the secondend of the transverse portion 93 c. Hereinafter, for convenience of thedescription, the gap 93 is denoted as an aperture.

The pixel electrode 190 has central apertures 91 and 92, upper apertures93 a and 94 a, and lower apertures 93 b and 94 b, and the pixelelectrode 190 is divided into a plurality of regions by the apertures91, 92, 93 a, 93 b, 94 a, and 94 b, where the apertures 93 a and 93 bcorrespond to the upper slanted portion and lower slanted portionseparating the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b. The apertures 91,92, 93 a, 93 b, 94 a, and 94 b have an approximate inversion symmetrywith respect to the storage electrode line 131. That is, the upperapertures positioned on a first side of the storage electrode line 131may be substantially mirror images of the lower apertures positioned ona second side of the storage electrode line 131.

The upper and lower apertures 93 a, 93 b, 94 a, and 94 b extend in aslanted direction from the left side of the pixel electrodes 190 to theright side thereof and are disposed in upper and lower half regions withrespect to the storage electrode line 131 which bisects the pixelelectrode 190 in a longitudinal direction, respectively. The upper andlower apertures 93 a, 93 b, 94 a, and 94 b have an angle of about 45°with respect to the gate lines 121 and the upper apertures 93 a and 94 aextend perpendicular to the lower apertures 93 b and 94 b, and thecentral apertures 91 and 92 have a pair of branches which aresubstantially parallel to the upper apertures 93 a and 94 a and lowerapertures 93 b and 94 b. The central apertures 91 and 92 also havelongitudinal portions extending in a longitudinal direction at thecenter thereof, such as along the storage electrode line 131.

Accordingly, each of the upper and lower half regions of the pixelelectrodes 190 is divided into four regions by the apertures 91, 92, 93a, 93 b, 94 a, and 94 b. Here, the number of regions or the number ofapertures may vary according to a size of the pixel PX, an aspect ratioof the pixel electrodes 190, a type or characteristics of the liquidcrystal layer 3, or other design factors.

The pixel electrode 190 overlaps with adjacent gate lines 121, so thatan aperture ratio thereof increases.

The shielding electrodes 88 extend along the data lines 171 a and 171 band the gate lines 121. Portions thereof disposed over the data lines171 a and 171 b entirely cover the data lines 171 a and 171 b, andportions thereof disposed over the gate lines 121 have a width smallerthan widths of the gate lines 121 and are disposed within boundaries ofthe gate lines 121. The two data lines 171 a and 171 b disposed betweentwo adjacent pixel electrodes 190 are entirely covered with theshielding electrodes 88. Alternatively, the widths of the shieldingelectrodes 88 may be adjusted to be smaller than the combined widths ofthe data lines 171 a and 171 b, and/or boundary lines of the shieldingelectrodes 88 may be located outside the boundaries of the gate lines121. In order to apply a common voltage Vcom to the shielding electrodes88, the shielding electrodes 88 may be connected through contact holes(not shown) within the protective film 180 and the gate insulating layer140 to the storage electrode line 131 or a short point (not shown)through which the common voltage Vcom is transmitted from the TFT panel100 to the common electrode panel 200. Here, it is preferable that adistance between the shielding electrode 88 and the pixel electrode 190is designed to be minimized in order to minimize the decrease in theaperture ratio.

In such an arrangement, if the shielding electrodes 88 applied with thecommon voltage Vcom are disposed over the data lines 171 a and 171 b,the shielding electrodes 88 shield the electric field generated betweenthe data lines 171 a and 171 b and the pixel electrodes 190 and betweenthe data lines 171 a and 171 b and the common electrode 270, so thatvoltage distortion of the pixel electrodes 190 and signal delay anddistortion of data voltage transmitted by the data lines 171 a and 171 bcan be reduced.

In addition, since the pixel electrodes 190 and the shielding electrodes88 are separated from each other by a distance in order to prevent ashort-circuit therebetween, the pixel electrodes 190 can be furtherseparated from the data lines 171 a and 171 b, so that parasitecapacitance therebetween can be reduced. In addition, since permittivityof the liquid crystal layer 3 is higher than that of the protective film180, the parasite capacitance between the data lines 171 a and 171 b andthe shielding electrodes 88 is lower than the parasite capacitancebetween the data lines 171 a and 171 b and common electrode 270 in acase where the shielding electrodes 88 are not provided.

In addition, since the pixel electrodes 190 and the shielding electrodes88 are constructed with the same layer, the distance therebetween can beuniformly maintained, so that the parasite capacitance therebetween isuniform.

The contact assistant members 81, 82 a, and 82 b are connected throughthe contact holes 181, 182 a, and 182 b to the end portions 129 of thegate lines 121 and the end portions 179 a and 179 b of the data lines171 a and 171 b, respectively. The contact assistant members 81, 82 a,and 82 b have a function of compensating for adhesiveness of the exposedend portions 129 of the gate lines 121 and the exposed end portions 179a and 179 b of the data lines 171 a and 171 b to external apparatuses,and of protecting these portions.

When the gate driver 400 or the data driver 500 shown in FIG. 1 isintegrated in the TFT panel 100, the gate lines 121 or the data lines171 a and 171 b extend to be directly connected to the drivers. In thiscase, the contact assistant members 81, 82 a, and 82 b may be used toconnect the gate lines 121 and the data lines 171 a and 171 b to thedrivers 400 and 500, respectively.

On the pixel electrodes 190, the contact assistant members 81, 82 a, and82 b, and the protective film 180, an alignment film 11 for aligning theliquid crystal layer 3 is coated. The alignment film 11 may be avertical alignment film.

Next, the common electrode panel 200 will be described with reference toFIGS. 5 to 7A.

A light-shielding member 220 for preventing light leakage, also termed ablack matrix, is formed on a dielectric substrate 210 made of atransparent glass or the like, such as other transparent insulatingmaterials.

The light-shielding member 220 includes a plurality of opening portionswhich face the pixel electrodes 190 and have substantially the sameshape as the pixel electrodes 190. Alternatively, the light-shieldingmember 220 may be constructed with portions corresponding to the datalines 171 a and 171 b and portions corresponding to the TFTs Qa and Qb.However, the light-shielding member 220 may have various shapes in orderto shield the light leakage in a vicinity of the pixel electrodes 190and the TFTs Qa and Qb.

A plurality of color filters 230 are formed on the substrate 210. Thecolor filters 230 are disposed in most regions surrounded by thelight-shielding member 220 and extend along the pixel electrodes 190 inthe transverse direction.

The color filters 230 can display one of the colors, i.e., red, green,or blue, or other colors not otherwise described herein.

A cover film 250 is formed on the color filters 230 and thelight-shielding member 220 in order to prevent the color filters 230from being exposed and to provide a planarized surface.

A common electrode 270 made of a transparent conductive material suchas, but not limited to, ITO and IZO is formed on the cover film 250.

The common electrode 270 includes a plurality of apertures 71 to 74 b asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The apertures 71 to 74 b face one of the pixel electrodes 190 andinclude central apertures 71 and 72, upper apertures 73 a and 74 a, andlower apertures 73 b and 74 b. The apertures 71 to 74 b are disposedbetween the adjacent apertures 91 to 94 b of the pixel electrode 190 andbetween the apertures 94 a and 94 b and the sides of the pixel electrode190. In addition, each of the apertures 71 to 74 b includes at least oneslanted portion which extends in parallel to the apertures 91 to 94 a ofthe pixel electrodes 190.

Each of the upper and lower apertures 73 a to 74 b includes a slantedportion which extends from a portion of the common electrode 270corresponding to the right side of each pixel electrode 190 toward loweror upper sides thereof and longitudinal and/or transverse portions whichextend from the ends of the slanted portion along portions of the commonelectrode 270 corresponding to the sides of the pixel electrode 190 withan obtuse angle with the slanted portion and overlap with the portionsof the common electrode 270 corresponding to sides of the pixelelectrode 190.

The central aperture 71 includes a central longitudinal portion whichextends from the left side in the longitudinal direction, a pair ofslanted portions which extend from the central longitudinal portiontoward portions of the common electrode 270 corresponding to the leftsides of the pixel electrode 190 with a slanted angle with respect tothe central longitudinal portion, and distal transverse portions whichextend from the ends of the slanted portions along portions of thecommon electrode 270 corresponding to the left side of the pixelelectrode 190 with an obtuse angle with the slanted portions and overlapwith portions of the common electrode 270 corresponding to the left sideof the pixel electrode 190. The central aperture 72 includes atransverse portion which extends along portions of the common electrode270 corresponding to the right side of the pixel electrode 190 andoverlaps with portions of the common electrode 270 corresponding to theright side of the pixel electrode 190, a pair of slanted portions whichextend from the ends of the transverse portion toward portions of thecommon electrode 270 corresponding to the left side of the pixelelectrode 190, and distal transverse portions which extend from the endsof the slanted portions along portions of the common electrode 270corresponding to the left side of the pixel electrode 190 with an obtuseangle with the slanted portions and overlap with portions of the commonelectrode 270 corresponding to the left side of the pixel electrode 190.As the common electrode 270 may cover substantially an entire surface ofthe common electrode panel 200, the pattern of apertures 71 to 74 bdescribed herein may be repeated for each pixel region of the TFT panel100.

Notches having a shape of a triangle are formed in the slanted portionsof the apertures 71 to 74 b. Alternatively, the notches may have a shapeof a rectangle, a trapezoid, or a semicircle, and may have a convex or aconcave shape. Due to the notches, an alignment direction of the liquidcrystal molecules within the liquid crystal layer 3 located withinboundaries corresponding to the apertures 71 to 74 b can be determined.

The number of apertures 71 to 74 b may vary according to the designfactors, and the light-shielding member 220 may overlap with theapertures 71 to 74 b to shield the light leakage in a vicinity of theapertures 71 to 74 b

Since the same common voltage Vcom is applied to the common electrode270 and the shielding electrodes 88, no electric field is generatedtherebetween. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules within theliquid crystal layer 3 disposed between the common electrode 270 and theshielding electrodes 88 maintain an initial vertically aligned state,and light incident to the region cannot transmit.

At least one of the apertures 91 to 94 b and 71 to 74 b may be replacedwith protrusions or recessed portions, and, although a particular shapeand arrangement of the apertures 91 to 94 b and 71 to 74 b has beendescribed for exemplary purposes, the shape and arrangement of theapertures 91 to 94 b and 71 to 74 b may be modified in alternativeembodiments.

On the common electrode 270 and the cover film 250, an alignment film 21for aligning the liquid crystal layer 3 is coated. The alignment film 21may be a vertical alignment film.

Polarizing plates 12 and 22 are provided on outer surfaces of the panels100 and 200. Transmitting axes of the two polarizing plates 12 and 22are perpendicular to each other, and one of the transmitting axes (orabsorbing axes) is parallel to the longitudinal direction. In the caseof a reflective type LCD apparatus, one of the two polarizing plates 12and 22 may be omitted.

The liquid crystal layer 3 has a negative anisotropic permittivity, andthe liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 3 are alignedso as for major axes thereof to be perpendicular to the surfaces of thetwo panels 100, 200 when no electric field is applied to the liquidcrystal molecules.

When the common voltage Vcom and the data voltage are applied to thecommon electrode 270 and the pixel electrodes 190, respectively, anelectric field is generated in a direction substantially perpendicularto the surfaces of the panels 100 and 200. The apertures 91 to 94 b and71 to 74 b of the electrodes 190 and 270 distort the electric field togenerate a horizontal component which is perpendicular to the sides ofthe apertures 91 to 94 b and 71 to 74 b.

Accordingly, the electric field is oriented in a direction slanted withrespect to a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the panels 100and 200.

In response to the electric field, the liquid crystal molecules withinthe liquid crystal layer 3 have a tendency to change the major axisdirection to be perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. Atthis time, since the electric field in a vicinity of the apertures 91 to94 a and 71 to 74 b and the sides of the pixel electrode 190 has apredetermined angle which is not parallel to the major axis direction ofthe liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal molecules rotate insuch a direction that the moving distance on the surface formed by themajor axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the electricfield is short. Therefore, one group of the apertures 91 to 94 b and 71to 74 b and the sides of the pixel electrode 190 divide the region ofthe liquid crystal layer 3 located on the pixel electrode 190 into aplurality of domains where the liquid crystal molecules have differenttilted angles, so that it is possible to increase a reference viewingangle.

Now, operations of the LCD apparatus will be further described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the signal controller 600 receives red, green, andblue input image signals R, G, and B and input control signals forcontrolling a display thereof from an external graphic controller (notshown). Examples of the input control signals include a verticalsynchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync,a main clock MCLK, and a data enable signal DE. The signal controller600 suitably processes the input image signals R, G, and B based on theinput control signals and the input image signals R, G, and B accordingto an operating condition of the LCD panel assembly 300 to generate agate control signal CONT1 and a data control signal CONT2, andsubsequently transmits the generated gate control signal CONT1 to thegate driver 400 and the generated data control signal CONT2 and theprocessed image signals DAT to the data driver 500. Here, the conversionof the image signals is performed through mapping stored in a lookuptable (not shown) which is determined in advance by experiments or thelike or through a calculation of the signal controller 600.

The gate control signal CONT1 includes a scan start signal STV, which isa vertical synchronizing start signal, for indicating a scan start of agate-on voltage V_(on) and at least one gate clock signal CPV forcontrolling an output time of the gate-on voltage V_(on). An outputenable signal OE may further define the duration of the gate-on voltageV_(on).

The data control signal CONT2 includes a horizontal synchronizationstart signal STH indicating data transmission for a row of subpixels PXaand PXb, a load signal LOAD for commanding to apply the associated datavoltages to the data lines D₁ to D_(2m), and a data clock signal HCLK.The data control signal CONT2 may further include an inverse signal RVSfor inverting/reversing a polarity of the data voltage with respect tothe common voltage V_(com) (hereinafter, “the polarity of the datavoltage with respect to the common voltage V_(com) ” being abbreviatedto “data signal polarity”).

In response to the data control signal CONT2 from the signal controller600, the data driver 500 sequentially receives and shifts image data DATfor a row of the subpixels PXa and PXb, selects the grayscale voltagecorresponding to each of the image data DAT among the grayscale voltagesfrom the grayscale voltage generator 800 to convert the image data DATto the associated analog data voltages, and subsequently applies thedata voltages to the data lines D₁ to D_(2m).

In response to the gate control signal CONT1 from the signal controller600, the gate driver 400 sequentially applies the gate-on voltage V_(on)to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n) to turn on the switching devices Qa and Qbvia the gate electrodes connected to the gate lines G₁ to G_(n). As aresult, the data voltages applied to the data lines D₁ to D_(2m) areapplied to the associated subpixels PXa and PXb through the drainelectrodes of the turned-on switching devices Qa and Qb, which receivethe data voltages through the source electrodes.

Differences between the data voltages applied to the subpixels PXa andPXb and the common voltage V_(com) become charge voltages of the liquidcrystal capacitors C_(LCa) C_(LCb), that is, subpixel voltages.Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules varies according to theintensities of the subpixel voltages. Therefore, polarization of lightpassing through the liquid crystal layer 3 changes. The change in thepolarization results in a change in transmittance of the light due tothe polarizing plates 12 and 22 attached to the panels 100 and 200.

One input image data is converted to a pair of output image data, andthe output data provide different transmittance to a pair of subpixelsPXa and PXb. The two subpixels PXa and PXb show different gamma curves,and a gamma curve of one pixel PX is a combination of the gamma curves.

When one horizontal period (or 1H, that is, one period of the horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync and the data enable signal DE) elapses, thedata driver 500 and the gate driver 400 repeatedly perform theaforementioned operation for the next row of subpixels PXa and PXb. Inthis manner, during one frame, the gate-on voltage V_(on) issequentially applied to all the gate lines G₁-G_(n), so that the datavoltage is applied to all the subpixels PXa and PXb. When one frameends, the next frame starts, and a state of the inverse signal RVS, partof the data control signals CONT2, applied to the data driver 500 iscontrolled, so that the polarity of data voltage applied to each of thesubpixels PXa and PXb is opposite to the polarity in the previous frame(“frame inversion”). Alternatively, even within one frame, according tothe characteristics of the inverse signals RVS, the polarities of thedata voltage flowing through the data lines may be inverted (rowinversion and point inversion).

Now, a polarity and an inversion scheme of the exemplary pixel electrodeof the first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a polarity state of the exemplarypixel electrode of the first exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the polarities of the data voltages flowing throughtwo data lines (for example, D_(j) and D_(j+1)) connected to a pair ofthe subpixels PXa and PXb constituting one pixel PX are equal to eachother. However, the polarities of the data voltages flowing through twodata lines (for example, D_(j+1) and D_(j+2)) disposed between twoadjacent pixels PX are opposite to each other, so that polarities of thetwo adjacent pixels change. Although FIG. 8A shows the point inversionwhere the polarities of the pixel electrodes 190 are inverted everypixel, a 1+2 inversion scheme where the polarities are inverted everytwo pixels may alternatively be employed. According to the inversionscheme, since the polarities of the two subpixel electrodes 190 a and190 b constituting one pixel electrode 190 are equal to each other,light leakage does not occur in the aperture 93 between the subpixelsPXa and PXb.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, the polarities of the datavoltages flowing through two data lines (for example, D_(j) and D_(j+1))connected to a pair of the subpixels PXa and PXb constituting one pixelPX are different from each other. However, the polarities of the datavoltages flowing through two data lines (for example, D_(j+1) andD_(j+2)) disposed between two adjacent pixels PX are equal to eachother. Since the polarities of the adjacent data lines are equal to eachother, load on the data lines is reduced, so that it is possible toprevent charge delay of the data voltage and to increase a drivingmargin of the data driver 500.

Now, a second exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9 togetherwith FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the second exemplary embodiment of anLCD apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel assembly300, a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected to the LCD panelassembly 300, a grayscale voltage generator 800 connected to the datadriver 500, and a signal controller 600 for controlling the components.

Since the second exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according tothe present invention is substantially the same as the LCD apparatusshown in FIG. 1, description of the same components is omitted and onlydifferent components are described.

The LCD panel assembly 300 includes a lower panel 100 as a TFT panel, anupper panel 200 as a common electrode panel, where the panels 100 and200 face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposedtherebetween. The LCD panel 300 further includes a plurality of signallines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) and a plurality of pixels PXconnected thereto and arrayed substantially in a matrix on the lowerpanel 100.

The display signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) include aplurality of gate lines G₁ to G_(n) and a plurality of data lines D₁ toD_(2m). As shown in FIG. 9, each of the pixels PX includes a pair ofsubpixels PXa and PXb, and the two data lines D₁ to D_(2m) connected tothe subpixels PXa and PXb of each respective pixel are disposed at oneside of each of the pixels, rather than on opposite sides of each pixel,as in the first exemplary embodiment. Although FIG. 9 shows anarrangement where the two data lines D₁ to D_(2m) are disposed at theleft side of each pixel, the data lines may alternatively be disposed atthe right side thereof.

The odd-numbered data lines D_(2j−1) are connected to the switchingdevices Qb of the subpixels PXb, and the even-numbered data lines D_(2j)are connected to the switching devices Qa of the subpixels PXa. In otherwords, alternating data lines are connected to the switching devices Qaand Qb. In order to avoid connection and contact between the data linesD_(2j−1) and the data lines D_(2j), bridge wires (not shown) areconnected between the data lines D_(2j−1) and the switching devices Qb.

Now, a structure of the LCD apparatus will be described with referenceto FIGS. 10 to 13.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thesecond exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention, and FIG. 11 is a view showing a layout of anexemplary common electrode panel for the second exemplary embodiment ofthe LCD apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a viewshowing a layout of the second exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatusconstructed with the exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 10 and the exemplarycommon electrode panel of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a cross sectional viewshowing the LCD apparatus taken along line XIII-XIII′ of FIG. 12.

As show in FIGS. 10 to 13, since the layered structure of the secondexemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention is substantially equal to the layered structure of the LCDapparatus shown in FIGS. 4 to 7B, description of the same components isomitted and only different components are described.

In the TFT panel 100, a plurality of gate lines 121 including aplurality of gate electrodes 124, a plurality of storage electrode lines131 including a plurality of storage electrodes 133 a and 133 b, and aplurality of connection bridges 127 are formed on a substrate 110.

The connection bridges 127 are made of the same material and within asame layer of the TFT panel 100 as the gate lines 121 and the storageelectrode lines 131. Also, the connection bridges 127 extendsubstantially parallel to the gate line 121 and the storage electrodeline 131, however alternate shapes and directions are within the scopeof these embodiments.

A gate insulating layer 140, semiconductors 151 a and 151 b, and ohmiccontact members 161 a, 161 b, 163 a, 163 b, 165 a, and 165 b aresequentially formed on the gate lines 121, the storage electrode lines131, and the connection bridges 127.

A plurality of data lines 171 a and 171 b and pluralities of sourceelectrodes 173 a and 173 b and drain electrodes 175 a and 175 b, whichare separated from the data lines 171 a and 171 b, are sequentiallyformed on the ohmic contact members 161 a, 161 b, 163 a, 163 b, 165 a,and 165 b. Since the source electrode 173 b is to be connected to a dataline 171 b adjacent to a same side of the pixel electrode 190 as thedata line 171 a, the source electrode 173 b opens in a same direction asthe source electrode 173 a.

The data lines 171 b include a plurality of first and second portions171 p and 171 q which extend in the transverse direction, substantiallyperpendicular to the gate lines 121, and are separated from each other.The first and second portions 171 p and 171 q of the data lines 171 bhave end portions which overlap first end portions of the connectionbridges 127 and are electrically connected to each other. In addition,portions of the source electrodes 173 b overlap second end portions ofthe connection bridges 127 and are electrically connected to the datalines 171 b.

A protective film 180, such as a passivation layer, is formed on thedata lines 171 a and 171 b, the source electrodes 173 a and 173 b, thedrain electrodes 175 a and 175 b, and the exposed protrusions 154 a and154 b of the semiconductors 151 a and 151 b.

In the protective film 180, a plurality of contact holes 182 a, 182 b,185 a, and 185 b are formed, and another plurality of contact holes 181,187 a, and 187 b are formed in the protective film 180 and the gateinsulating layer 140.

A plurality of subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b, shielding electrodes88, a plurality of contact assistant members 81, 82 a, and 82 b, and aplurality of connection members 87 a and 87 b are formed on theprotective film 180.

The connection members 87 a and 87 b are constructed with the samematerial and within a same layer as the subpixel electrodes 190 a and190 b, the shielding electrodes 88, and the contact assistant members81, 82 a, and 82 b, and have a function of connecting the data lines 171b, the connection bridges 127, and the source electrodes 173 b throughthe contact holes 187 a and 187 b. On the other hand, the shieldingelectrodes 88 have concave portions so as not to contact the connectionmembers 87 a, and the subpixel electrodes 190 b have openings 197 so asnot to contact the connection members 87 b.

In the common electrode panel 200, a light-shielding member 220 and aplurality of color filters 230 are formed on a substrate 210, a coverfilm 250 is formed thereon, and a common electrode 270 is formed on thecover film 250. The light-shielding member 220 includes an island-shapedlight-shielding member 221 for shielding the TFTs Qb.

Alignment films 11 and 21 are formed on inner surfaces of the panels 100and 200, and polarizing plates 12 and 22 are formed on outer surfacesthereof.

Now, a polarity and an inversion scheme of the pixel electrodes of theLCD apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a polarity state of the exemplary pixelelectrode of the second exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, the polarities of the data voltages flowing throughtwo data lines (for example, D_(j) and D_(j+1)) connected to a pair ofthe subpixels PXa and PXb constituting one pixel PX are equal to eachother. In addition, the two data lines for the one pixel PX are disposedbetween two adjacent pixels PX.

Accordingly, since the polarities of the two subpixel electrodes 190 aand 190 b constituting one pixel electrode 190 are equal to each other,light leakage does not occur in the aperture 93 between the subpixelsPXa and PXb, as previously described with respect to the first exemplaryembodiment of the LCD apparatus.

In addition, since the polarities of the adjacent data lines for eachpixel PX are equal to each other, load on the data lines is reduced, sothat it is possible to prevent charge delay of the data voltage and toincrease driving margin of the data driver 500.

On the other hand, although FIG. 14 shows the point inversion where thepolarities of the pixel electrodes 190 are inverted every pixel, a 1+2inversion scheme where the polarities are inverted every two pixels maybe alternatively employed.

Now, a third exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus according to thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the third exemplary embodiment of anLCD apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, the LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel assembly300, a gate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected to the LCD panelassembly 300, a grayscale voltage generator 800 connected to the datadriver 500, and a signal controller 600 for controlling the components.

Since the third exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according tothe present invention is substantially the same as the LCD apparatusshown in FIG. 1, description of the same components is omitted and onlydifferent components are described.

The LCD panel assembly 300 includes a lower panel 100 as a TFT panel, anupper panel 200 as a common electrode panel, where the panels 100 and200 face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposedtherebetween. The LCD panel 300 further includes a plurality of signallines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) and a plurality of pixels PXconnected thereto and arrayed substantially in a matrix on the lowerpanel 100.

The display signal lines G₁ to G_(n) and D₁ to D_(2m) include aplurality of gate lines G₁ to G_(n) and a plurality of data lines D₁ toD_(2m). Each of the pixels PX includes a pair of subpixels PXa and PXb,and the two data lines D₁ to D_(2m) connected to the subpixels PXa andPXb are disposed at one side of each of the sub pixels. Thus, each pixelPX is divided by one of the two data lines dedicated to each column ofpixels PX. Although FIG. 15 shows the arrangement where the two datalines D₁ to D_(2m) are disposed at the left side of each sub pixel, thedata lines may be disposed at the right side thereof.

An aspect ratio of one pixel PX is substantially 1:3, and if the sizesof the subpixels PXa and PXb are equal to each other, the aspect ratioof each of the subpixels PXa and PXb is substantially 1:6. In order toincrease a side visibility, the transverse lengths of the subpixels PXaand PXb are designed to be different from each other.

Now, a structure of the LCD apparatus will be described with referenceto FIGS. 16 to 19.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary TFT panel for thethird exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatus according to the presentinvention, and FIG. 17 is a view showing a layout of an exemplary commonelectrode panel for the third exemplary embodiment of the LCD apparatusaccording to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a view showing a layoutof the third exemplary embodiment of an LCD apparatus constructed withthe exemplary TFT panel of FIG. 16 and the exemplary common electrodepanel of FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the LCDapparatus taken along line XIX-XIX′ of FIG. 18.

Each pixel PX of the LCD apparatus includes two subpixels PXa and PXbhaving substantially the same structure.

Therefore, in the following description, one subpixel PXa will bedescribed, and duplicative portions of a description of the othersubpixel PXb will be omitted.

The LCD apparatus includes a TFT panel 100 and a common electrode panel200, which face each other, and a liquid crystal layer 3 interposedbetween the two panels 100 and 200.

First, the TFT panel 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16,18, and 19.

A plurality of gate lines 121 and a plurality of storage electrode lines131 are disposed on a dielectric substrate 110 made of a transparentglass or the like, such as other transparent insulating materials.

The gate lines 121 mainly extend in a first direction, such as alongitudinal direction, are separated from each other, and transmit gatesignals. Each of the gate lines 121 includes a plurality of protrusionsconstituting a plurality of gate electrodes 124 a and an end portion 129having a wide area for connection to other layers or externalapparatuses. The gate electrodes 124 a may be positioned adjacent afirst corner of the subpixel PXa.

The storage electrode lines 131 extend mainly in the first direction,such as the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the gatelines 121, and include a plurality of protrusions constituting storageelectrodes 133 a.

Each storage electrode 133 a is in a shape of a rectangle and hassymmetry about the storage electrode line 131. A predetermined voltage,such as a common voltage Vcom applied to the common electrode 270 of thecommon electrode panel 200 of the LCD apparatus, is also applied to thestorage electrode line 131.

The gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 may be made of analuminum based metal such as aluminum (Al) and an aluminum alloy, asilver based metal such as silver (Ag) and a silver alloy, a copperbased metal such as copper (Cu) and a copper alloy, a molybdenum basedmetal such as molybdenum (Mo) and a molybdenum alloy, chromium (Cr),titanium (Ti), or tantalum (Ta).

Alternatively, the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131may have a multi-layered structure including two conductive layers (notshown) having different physical properties. In such a case, one of thetwo conductive layers would be made of a metal having a low resistivity,for example, an aluminum based metal, a silver based metal, and a copperbased metal, in order to reduce signal delay or voltage drop of the gatelines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131, and the other conductivelayer would be made of a material having a good contactness to othermaterials, particularly, ITO and IZO, such as a molybdenum based metal,chromium, titanium, and tantalum.

As preferred examples of the combination, the multi-layered structuremay include a lower chromium layer and an upper aluminum layer and alower aluminum layer and an upper molybdenum layer.

However, while particular examples have been described, it should beunderstood that the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131may be made of various metals and conductive materials.

In addition, side surfaces of the gate lines 121 and the storageelectrode lines 131 are slanted with respect to a surface of thesubstrate 110, and it is preferable that the slanted angle is in a rangeof about 30° to about 80°.

A gate insulating layer 140 made of a silicon nitride SiN_(x) or thelike is formed on the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines131, and may be further formed on the exposed portions of the substrate110 not covered by the gate lines 121 or the storage electrode lines131.

A plurality of island-shaped semiconductors 154 a made of hydrogenateda-Si is formed above the gate insulating layer 140. The island-shapedsemiconductors 154 a are mainly disposed over the gate electrodes 124 a.

A plurality of island-shaped ohmic contact members 163 a and 165 a madeof a silicide or n+ hydrogenated a-Si, or the like, which are doped withn type impurities such as phosphorus (P), are formed above thesemiconductors 154 a. The two pairs of the island-shaped ohmic contactmembers 163 a and 165 a are disposed on the semiconductors 154 a andface each other with respect to the gate electrode 124 a as a centerthereof.

Side surfaces of the island-shaped semiconductors 154 a and ohmiccontact members 163 a and 165 a are also slanted with respect to thesurface of the substrate 110, and the slanted angle is in a range ofabout 30° to about 80°.

A plurality of data lines 171 a and a plurality of drain electrodes 175a which are separated from the plurality of data lines 171 a are formedon the ohmic contact members 163 a and 165 a and the gate insulatinglayer 140.

The data lines 171 a extend mainly in the second direction, such as thetransverse direction, to substantially perpendicularly intersect thegate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131, and apply the datavoltages. The data lines 171 a have a plurality of source electrodes 173a which overlap the ohmic contact members 163 a and extend toward thedrain electrodes 175 a and end portions 179 a which have enlarged widthsfor connection to other layers or external apparatuses.

The drain electrodes 175 a extend mainly in the transverse direction,parallel to the data lines 171 a, and have enlarged portions 177 a whichoverlap with the storage electrodes 133 a. The sides of the enlargedportions 177 a of the drain electrodes 175 a are substantially parallelto the sides of the storage electrodes 133 a. The gate electrodes 124 a,the source electrodes 173 a, and the drain electrodes 175 a togetherwith the semiconductors 154 a constitute the TFTs (TFT) Qa. Channels ofthe TFTs Qa are formed on the semiconductors 154 a between the sourceelectrodes 173 a and the drain electrodes 175 a, respectively.

The data lines 171 a and the drain electrodes 175 a are preferably madeof chromium, a molybdenum based metal, or a refractory metal such astantalum and titanium, and may have a multi-layered structure which isconstructed with a lower layer (not shown) made of the refractory metaland an upper layer (not shown) made of a low resistance materialdisposed thereon.

As an example of the multi-layered structure, in addition to theaforementioned two-layered structure of a lower chromium or molybdenumlayer and an upper aluminum layer, there may be a three-layeredstructure of a molybdenum layer/an aluminum layer/a molybdenum layer.

Similar to the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131, theside surfaces of the data lines 171 a and the drain electrodes 175 a areslanted with respect to the substrate 110 at an angle ranging from about30° to about 80°.

The ohmic contact members 163 a and 165 a are interposed only betweenthe underlying semiconductors 154 a and the overlying data lines 171 a,source electrodes 173 a, and drain electrodes 175 a and have a functionof reducing contact resistance. The island-shaped semiconductors 154 ahave exposed portions uncovered between the source electrodes 173 a andthe drain electrodes 175 a and by the data lines 171 a and the drainelectrodes 175 a.

A protective film 180, such as a passivation layer, is formed on thedata lines 171 a, the source electrodes 173 a, the drain electrodes 175a, and the exposed semiconductors 154 a. The protective film 180 is madeof an inorganic material such as a silicon nitride and a silicon oxide,an organic material having an excellent planarization property andphotosensitivity, and a low dielectric-constant insulating materialformed by PECVD, such as a-Si:C:O and a-Si:O:F. However, in order to usethe excellent properties of an organic film and to protect the exposedportions of the semiconductors 154 a, the protective film 180 may have atwo-layered structure including a lower inorganic film and an upperorganic film.

In the protective film 180, a plurality of contact holes 185 a and 182 awhich expose the enlarged portions 177 a of the drain electrodes 175 aand the end portions 179 a of the data lines 171 a are formed, and aplurality of contact holes 181, which expose the end portions 129 of thegate lines 121 are formed in the protective film 180 and the gateinsulating layer 140.

On the protective film 180, a plurality of the subpixel electrodes 190a, a plurality of shielding electrodes 88, and a plurality of contactassistant members 81 and 82 a are formed. The subpixel electrodes 190 a,the shielding electrodes 88, and the contact assistant members 81 and 82a are made of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO and IZO, ora reflective conductive material such as aluminum.

The subpixel electrodes 190 a are physically and electrically connectedthrough the contact holes 185 a to the drain electrodes 175 a to receivedata voltages from the drain electrodes 175 a.

The subpixel electrodes 190 a applied with the data voltages, togetherwith the common electrode 270, generate electric fields, so thatalignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 3between the two electrodes 190 a and 270 can be determined.

The subpixel electrodes 190 a and the common electrode 270 constituteliquid crystal capacitors C_(LCa) to sustain the applied voltagesalthough the TFTs Qa turns off. In order to increase the voltage storagecapability, storage capacitors C_(STa) connected in parallel to theliquid crystal capacitors C_(LCa) are provided. Each storage capacitorC_(STa) is constructed by overlapping the subpixel electrodes 190 a andthe storage electrode line 131. In order to increase electriccapacitance of the storage capacitor C_(STa), that is, storagecapacitance, storage electrodes 133 a are provided to the storageelectrode line 131 and are overlapped with the enlarged portions 177 aof the drain electrodes 175 a connected to the subpixel electrodes 190 athrough the contact hole 185 a, so that the distance between ports isreduced and the overlapped area is enlarged.

The subpixel electrode 190 a has a shape of an approximate rectangle.The corners thereof may be partially cut, and the cut sides have anangle of about 45° with respect to the gate line 121.

The subpixel electrode 190 a has a plurality of central apertures 91 aand 92 a, upper apertures 93 a, 94 a, and 95 a, and lower apertures 96a, 97 a, and 98 a. The subpixel electrode 190 a is divided into aplurality of small regions by these apertures 91 a to 98 a. The upperand lower apertures 93 a to 95 a and 96 a to 98 a are disposed in upperand lower half regions of the subpixel electrode 190 a, respectively,and the central apertures 91 a and 92 a are disposed between the upperapertures 93 a to 95 a and the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a. Theapertures 91 a to 98 a have an approximate inversion symmetry withrespect to a central longitudinal line of the subpixel electrode 190 adividing the upper and lower half regions of the subpixel electrode 190a. For example, the storage electrode line 131 may divide the upper andlower half regions of the subpixel electrode 190 a, and the apertures 91a to 98 a may be mirror images of each other with respect to the storageelectrode line 131.

The upper and lower apertures 93 a to 95 a and 96 a to 98 a have anangle of about 45° with respect to the gate lines 121. The upperapertures 93 a to 95 a and the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a areperpendicular to each other.

The upper apertures 93 a to 95 a are parallel to each other and parallelto upper portions of the central apertures 91 a and 92 a, and the lowerapertures 96 a to 98 a are also parallel to each other and parallel tolower portions of the central apertures 91 a and 92 a.

The apertures 95 a and 98 a extend from the transverse side adjacent thedata line 171 b to opposing upper and lower longitudinal sides of thesubpixel electrode 190 a. The apertures 94 a and 97 a extend from theright side of the subpixel electrode 190 a, adjacent the data line 171b, to the opposing left corners of the subpixel electrode 190 a, whichmay be uncut. The apertures 93 a and 96 a extend from the right cornersof the upper and lower half regions of the subpixel electrode 190 a tothe left transverse side of the subpixel electrode 190 a, adjacent thedata line 171 a.

The central aperture 92 a has a longitudinal portion which extends alongthe central transverse line of the subpixel electrode 190 a,corresponding to the storage electrode line 131, and a pair of slantedportions which extend in perpendicularly opposite directions from thelongitudinal portion of the central aperture 92 a to the left side ofthe subpixel electrode 190 a and in parallel to the upper apertures 93 ato 95 a and the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a, respectively. The centralaperture 91 a also has an inlet which extends along the centraltransverse line of the subpixel electrode 190 a, corresponding to thestorage electrode line 131, and is formed at the left side of thesubpixel electrode 190 a adjacent the data line 171 a, and the inlet hasa pair of slanted sides which are parallel to the upper apertures 93 ato 95 a and the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a, respectively.

Accordingly, the upper half region of the subpixel electrode 190 a isdivided into five small regions by the central apertures 91 a and 92 aand the upper apertures 93 a to 95 a, and the lower half region is alsodivided into five small regions by the central apertures 91 a and 92 aand the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a. Here, the number of regions or thenumber of apertures may vary according to a size of the pixel PX, anaspect ratio of the subpixel electrodes 190 a, a type or characteristicsof the liquid crystal layer 3, or other design factors.

The subpixel electrode 190 a overlaps with adjacent gate lines 121, sothat an aperture ratio thereof increases.

The shielding electrodes 88 extend along the data lines 171 a and thegate lines 121. Portions thereof disposed over the data lines 171 aentirely cover the data lines 171 a, and portions thereof disposed overthe gate lines 121 have a width smaller than widths of the gate lines121 and are disposed within boundaries of the gate lines 121.Alternatively, the widths of the shielding electrodes 88 may be adjustedto be smaller than those of the data lines 171 a, and boundary linesthereof may be located outside the boundaries of the gate lines 121. Inorder to apply a common voltage Vcom to the shielding electrodes 88, theshielding electrodes 88 may be connected through contact holes (notshown) within the protective film 180 and the gate insulating layer 140to the storage electrode line 131 or a short point (not shown) throughwhich the common voltage Vcom is transmitted from the TFT panel 100 tothe common electrode panel 200.

Here, it is preferable that a distance between the shielding electrode88 and the pixel electrode 190 is designed to be minimized in order tominimize the decrease in the aperture ratio.

In such an arrangement, if the shielding electrodes 88 applied with thecommon voltage Vcom are disposed over the data lines 171 a, theshielding electrodes 88 shield the electric field generated between thedata lines 171 a and the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and betweenthe data lines 171 a and the common electrode 270, so that voltagedistortion of the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and signal delayand distortion of the data voltage transmitted by the data lines 171 acan be reduced.

In addition, since the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and theshielding electrodes 88 are separated from each other by a distance inorder to prevent a short-circuit therebetween, the subpixel electrodes190 a and 190 b can be further separated from the data lines 171 a, sothat parasite capacitance therebetween can be reduced. In addition,since a permittivity of the liquid crystal layer 3 is higher than thatof the protective film 180, the parasite capacitance between the datalines 171 a and the shielding electrodes 88 is lower than the parasitecapacitance between the data lines 171 a and the common electrode 270 ina case where the shielding electrodes 88 are not provided.

In addition, since the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b and theshielding electrodes 88 are constructed with the same layer, thedistance therebetween can be uniformly maintained, so that the parasitecapacitance therebetween is uniform.

The contact assistant members 81 and 82 a are connected through thecontact holes 181 and 182 a to the end portions 129 of the gate lines121 and the end portions 179 a of the data lines 171 a, respectively.The contact assistant members 81 and 82 a have a function ofcompensating for adhesiveness of the exposed end portions 129 of thegate lines 121 and the exposed end portions 179 a of the data lines 171a to external apparatuses, and of protecting these portions.

When the gate driver 400 or the data driver 500 shown in FIG. 15 isintegrated in the TFT panel 100, the gate lines 121 or the data lines171 a extend to be directly connected to the drivers. In this case, thecontact assistant members 81 and 82 a may be used to connect the gatelines 121 and the data lines 171 a to the drivers 400 and 500,respectively.

On the subpixel electrode 190 a, the contact assistant members 81 and 82a, and the protective film 180 an alignment film 11 for aligning theliquid crystal layer 3 is coated. The alignment film 11 may be avertical alignment film.

Next, the common electrode panel 200 will be described with reference toFIGS. 17 to 19.

A light-shielding member 220 for preventing light leakage, also termed ablack matrix, is formed on a dielectric substrate 210 made of atransparent glass or the like, such as other transparent insulatingmaterials.

The light-shielding member 220 includes a plurality of opening portionswhich face the pixel electrodes 190 and have substantially the sameshape as the pixel electrodes 190. Alternatively, the light-shieldingmember 220 may be constructed with portions corresponding to the datalines 171 a and portions corresponding to the TFT Qa. However, thelight-shielding member 220 may have various shapes in order to shieldthe light leakage in a vicinity of the subpixel electrode 190 a and theTFT Qa.

A plurality of color filters 230 are formed on the substrate 210. Thecolor filters 230 are disposed in most regions surrounded by thelight-shielding member 220 and extend along the pixel electrodes 190 inthe transverse direction.

The color filters 230 can display one of the colors, i.e., red, green,or blue, or other colors not otherwise described herein.

A cover film 250 is formed on the color filters 230 and thelight-shielding member 220 in order to prevent the color filters 230from being exposed and to provide a planarized surface.

A common electrode 270 made of a transparent conductive material, suchas, but not limited to, ITO and IZO, is formed on the cover film 250.

The common electrode 270 includes a plurality of apertures 71 to 78 b,as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

The apertures 71 a to 78 a face one of the subpixel electrodes 190 a andinclude central apertures 71 a and 72 a and upper and lower apertures 73a to 75 a and 76 a to 78 a. The apertures 71 a to 78 a are disposed inlocations on the common electrode 270 corresponding to locations betweenadjacent apertures 91 a to 98 a of the subpixel electrode 190 a orbetween the apertures 94 a and 98 a and the slanted sides of thesubpixel electrode 190 a. In addition, each of the apertures 71 a to 78a has at least one slanted portion which extends parallel to the upperapertures 93 a to 95 a or the lower apertures 96 a to 98 a of thesubpixel electrode 190 a, and the distances between adjacent parallelapertures 91 a to 98 a and 71 a to 78 a, and between the slantedportions thereof and the slanted sides of the subpixel electrode 190 aare equal to each other. The apertures 91 a to 98 a on the subpixelelectrode 190 a and 71 a to 78 a on the common electrode 270 haveapproximate inversion symmetry with respect to a central longitudinalline of the subpixel electrode 190 a.

Each of the apertures 74 a, 75 a, 77 a, and 78 a includes a slantedportion which extends from a portion of the common electrode 270corresponding to the right side of the subpixel electrode 190 a to theupper or lower side of the subpixel electrode 190 a, and longitudinaland transverse portions which extend from the ends of the slantedportions along portions of the common electrode 270 corresponding to thesides of the subpixel electrode 190 a with an obtuse angle with theslanted portions and overlap with portions of the common electrode 270corresponding to the sides of the subpixel electrode 190 a. Each of theapertures 73 a and 76 a includes a slanted portion which extends from aportion of the common electrode 270 corresponding to the right side ofthe subpixel electrode 190 a to a portion of the common electrode 270corresponding to the left side of the subpixel electrode 190 a, and apair of transverse portions which extend from the ends of the slantedportion along portions of the common electrode 270 corresponding to theleft and right sides of the subpixel electrode 190 a with an obtuseangle with the slanted portion and overlap with portions of the commonelectrode 270 corresponding to the left and right sides of the subpixelelectrode 190 a. Each of the central apertures 71 a and 72 a includes alongitudinal portion which extends along a portion of the commonelectrode 270 corresponding to the central longitudinal line of thesubpixel electrode 190 a, a pair of slanted portions which extend fromthe longitudinal portion to the portion of the common electrode 270corresponding to the left side of the subpixel electrode 190 a, and apair of transverse portions which extend from the ends of the slantedportions along a portion of the common electrode 270 corresponding tothe left side of the subpixel electrode 190 a with an obtuse angle withthe slanted portions and overlap with a portion of the common electrode270 corresponding to the sides of the subpixel electrode 190 a. As thecommon electrode 270 may cover substantially an entire surface of thecommon electrode panel 200, the pattern of apertures described hereinmay be repeated for each pixel region of the TFT panel 100.

Notches having a shape of a triangle are formed in the slanted portionsof the apertures 72 a, 73 a, 74 a, 76 a, and 77 a. Alternatively, thenotches may have a shape of a rectangle, a trapezoid, or a semicircle,and may have a convex or a concave shape. Due to the notches, analignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules within the liquidcrystal layer 3 located within boundaries corresponding to the apertures72 a, 73 a, 74 a, 76 a, and 77 a can be determined.

The number of apertures 71 a to 78 a may vary according to the designfactors, and the light-shielding member 220 may overlap with theapertures 71 a to 78 a to shield light leakage in a vicinity of theapertures 71 a to 78 a.

Since the same common voltage Vcom is applied to the common electrode270 and the shielding electrodes 88, no electric field is generatedtherebetween. Accordingly, the liquid crystal molecules within theliquid crystal layer 3 disposed between the common electrode 270 and theshielding electrodes 88 maintain an initial vertically aligned state,and light incident to the regions cannot transmit.

At least one of the apertures 91 a to 98 a and 71 a to 78 a may bereplaced with protrusions or recessed portions, and, although aparticular shape and arrangement of the apertures 91 a to 98 a and 71 ato 78 a has been described for exemplary purposes, the shape andarrangement of the apertures 91 a to 98 a and 71 a to 78 a may bemodified in alternative embodiments.

On the common electrode 270 and the cover film 250, an alignment film 21for aligning the liquid crystal layer 3 is coated. The alignment film 21may be a vertical alignment film.

Polarizing plates 12 and 22 are provided on outer surfaces of the panels100 and 200. Transmitting axes of the two polarizing plates 12 and 22are perpendicular to each other, and one of the transmitting axes (orabsorbing axes) is parallel to the longitudinal direction. In the caseof a reflective type LCD apparatus, one of the two polarizing plates 12and 22 may be omitted.

The liquid crystal layer 3 has a negative anisotropic permittivity, andthe liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 3 are alignedso as for major axes thereof to be perpendicular to the surfaces of thetwo panels 100, 200 when no electric field is applied to the liquidcrystal molecules.

When the common voltage Vcom and the data voltage are applied to thecommon electrode 270 and the subpixel electrode 190 a, respectively, anelectric field is generated in a direction substantially perpendicularto the surfaces of the panels 100 and 200. The apertures 91 a to 98 aand 71 a to 78 a of the electrodes 190 and 270 distort the electricfield to generate a horizontal component which is perpendicular to thesides of the apertures 91 a to 98 a and 71 a to 78 a.

Accordingly, the electric field is oriented in a direction slanted withrespect to a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the panels 100and 200.

In response to the electric field, the liquid crystal molecules withinthe liquid crystal layer 3 have a tendency to change the major axisdirection to be perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. Atthis time, since the electric field in a vicinity of the apertures 91 ato 98 a and 71 a to 78 a and the sides of the subpixel electrode 190 ahas a predetermined angle which is not parallel to the major axisdirection of the liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal moleculesrotate in such a direction that the moving distance on the surfaceformed by the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules andthe electric field is short. Therefore, one group of the apertures 91 ato 98 a and 71 a to 78 a and the sides of the subpixel electrode 190 adivide the region of the liquid crystal layer 3 located on the subpixelelectrode 190 a into a plurality of domains where the liquid crystalmolecules have different tilted angles, so that it is possible toincrease a reference viewing angle.

According to an LCD apparatus of the present invention, since the datalines 171 b are disposed between a pair of the subpixels PXa and PXbconstituting one pixel PX, it is possible to prevent light leakage. Inaddition, since the two data lines 171 a and 171 b are separated fromeach other by subpixels PXa and PXb, it is possible to reduce signaldelay or distortion of the data voltages.

Different data voltages which are determined in advance with respect toone input image signal are applied to the pair of subpixel electrodes190 a and 190 b, the magnitudes thereof may be determined according tothe sizes and shapes of the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b, and thepolarities thereof may be determined as needed.

The areas of the subpixel electrodes 190 a and 190 b may be differentfrom each other.

On the other hand, when two subpixels divided from one pixel areconnected to two gate lines but only one data line, the gate signals andthe data signals must be driven at a frequency (for example, 120 Hz)twice as high as a frequency (for example, 60 Hz) of the input imagesignal. Therefore, since the time for driving the TFTs of one row ofpixels decreases by half, a driving margin and a charging rate for sucha configuration may be reduced. However, according to a structure of thepresent invention which includes two data lines connected to each pixel,since the gate signals and the data signals can be driven at a frequencyequal to the frequency (60 Hz) of the input image signal, it is possibleto prevent the driving margin and the charge rate from being reduced.

As described above, according to the present invention, one pixel isdivided into a pair of subpixels, and the subpixels are connected to twodifferent data lines. Accordingly, separate data voltages with desiredlevels can be applied to the two subpixels within each pixel, so that itis possible to improve visibility, increase an aperture ratio, andimprove transmittance. In addition, since the areas of the subpixels maybe designed to be different from each other, it is possible to improveside visibility. In addition, since the LCD apparatus can be driven at afrequency equal to a frequency of an input image signal, it is possibleto prevent a driving margin and a charging rate from being reduced.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, butmay be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of theappended claims, the detailed description, and the accompanying drawingsof the present invention. Therefore, it is natural that suchmodifications belong to the scope of the present invention.

1. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: a pixel having firstand second subpixels; a gate line connected to the first and secondsubpixels and transmitting a gate signal to the first and secondsubpixels; a first data line intersecting the gate line and connected tothe first subpixel and transmitting a first data voltage to the firstsubpixel; and a second data line intersecting the gate line andconnected to the second subpixel and transmitting a second data voltageto the second subpixel, wherein the first and second data voltages havea different magnitude and are obtained from a same image information. 2.The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstsubpixel includes a first switching device connected to the gate lineand the first data line, and a first subpixel electrode connected to thefirst switching device, and the second subpixel includes a secondswitching device connected to the gate line and the second data line,and a second subpixel electrode connected to the second switchingdevice.
 3. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2, wherein atleast one of the first and second subpixel electrodes has an aperture.4. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the firstsubpixel and the second subpixel further comprise a common electrodefacing the first and second subpixel electrodes.
 5. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 4, wherein the common electrode has anaperture or a protrusion.
 6. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 2, further comprising a shielding electrode, at least a portion ofthe shielding electrode overlapping the first and second data lines andelectrically insulated from the first and second data lines.
 7. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2, wherein an area of thefirst subpixel electrode is different from an area of the secondsubpixel electrode.
 8. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2,wherein at least one of the first and second data lines is disposedbetween the first and second subpixel electrodes.
 9. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 8, wherein a ratio of a transverse length anda longitudinal length of the pixel is substantially equal to 1:3. 10.The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 9, wherein the firstsubpixel and the second subpixel are arranged in a transverse directionand a transverse length of the first subpixel is different from atransverse length of the second subpixel.
 11. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 8, further comprising first and second color filtersfacing the first and second subpixel electrodes respectively, whereinthe first and second color filters have a same color.
 12. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first data line andthe second data line are disposed at opposite sides of the pixel. 13.The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first andsecond data voltages have a same polarity.
 14. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second datavoltages have opposite polarities.
 15. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 2, wherein the first data line and the second dataline are disposed adjacent a same side of the pixel.
 16. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second datavoltages have a same polarity.
 17. The liquid crystal display apparatusof claim 15, further comprising a bridge wire connected between thesecond data line and the second switching device, wherein the seconddata line is farther from the pixel than the first data line.
 18. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the bridge wireand the gate line comprise a same metal layer, and the bridge wire areconnected to a portion of the second data line and an end of the secondswitching device through conductive members comprising a same metallayer as the first and second subpixel electrodes.
 19. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second data lineincludes a first portion and a second portion separated from each other,ends of the first and second portions of the second data lineoverlapping a first end portion of the bridge wire.
 20. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 19, wherein a second end portion ofthe bridge wire is overlapped by a source electrode of the secondswitching device.
 21. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2,wherein the pixel has a substantially rectangular shape, and the firstand second subpixels have a substantially non-rectangular shape.
 22. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first subpixelelectrode has a shape nested within a shape of the second subpixelelectrode, and a gap separates the first subpixel electrode from thesecond subpixel electrode.
 23. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 2, further comprising a storage electrode line substantiallyparallel to the gate line, wherein the first subpixel electrode isconnected to the first switching device via a first contact holepositioned at a location corresponding to the storage electrode line,and the second subpixel electrode is connected to the second switchingdevice via a second contact hole positioned between the storageelectrode line and the gate line.
 24. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display apparatus isdriven at a same frequency as a frequency of an input image signal ofthe image information.
 25. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a signal controller processing the imageinformation and generating first and second image signals; and a datadriver applying the first and second data voltages corresponding to thefirst and second image signals to the first and second data lines,respectively.
 26. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of pixels, and a pair of data linespositioned between each pair of adjacent pixels.
 27. A liquid crystaldisplay apparatus comprising: a gate line extending in a firstdirection; first and second data lines extending in a second directionand separated from each other; a first thin film transistor connected tothe gate line and the first data line; a second thin film transistorconnected to the gate line and the second data line; and a pixelelectrode comprising first and second display electrodes connected tothe first and second thin film transistors, respectively, wherein asecond direction length of the second display electrode is larger than afirst direction length of the first display electrode, and the firstdisplay electrode is located within the second direction length of thesecond display electrode.
 28. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 27, wherein the first display electrode has a shape nested withina shape of the second display electrode.
 29. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 27, wherein the first and second display electrodeshave slanted sides facing each other.
 30. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first and seconddisplay electrodes has an aperture.
 31. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 29, further comprising a third display electrodefacing the first and second display electrodes.
 32. The liquid crystaldisplay apparatus of claim 31, wherein the third display electrode hasan aperture or a protrusion.
 33. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 27, wherein each of the first and second display electrodes has asubstantially symmetrical shape with respect to a straight lineextending in the first direction.
 34. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 27, wherein the first and second data lines aredisposed at opposite sides of the second display electrode in the seconddirection thereof.
 35. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 31,wherein the first and second data lines are disposed at a same side ofthe second display electrode in the second direction thereof.
 36. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 31, wherein an area of thefirst display electrode is different from an area of the second displayelectrode.
 37. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: aplurality of pixels, each pixel comprising first and second subpixels; aplurality of gate lines connected to the first and second subpixels totransmit gate signals; and a plurality of data lines intersecting thegate lines and connected to the first subpixels to transmit datavoltages, wherein data voltages applied to the first and secondsubpixels within each pixel have different magnitudes and a samepolarity and are obtained from a single image information.
 38. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 37, wherein the polarities ofthe data voltages applied to the first and second subpixels are invertedfor every row of pixels.
 39. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 37, wherein the polarities of the data voltages applied to thefirst and second subpixels are inverted for every column of pixels. 40.The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 37, wherein the pluralityof data lines includes first and second data lines connected to thefirst and second subpixels, respectively.
 41. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 40, wherein the first and second data lines for eachpixel are disposed at opposite sides of each pixel.
 42. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first and second datalines for each pixel are disposed at a same side of each pixel.
 43. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 40, wherein one of the firstand second data lines is disposed between the first and second subpixelsof each pixel.
 44. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: aplurality of pixels, each pixel having first and second subpixels; aplurality of gate lines connected to the first and second subpixels totransmit gate signals; and a plurality of data lines intersecting thegate lines and connected to the first subpixels to transmit datavoltages, wherein data voltages applied to the first and secondsubpixels with each pixel have different magnitudes and oppositepolarities and are obtained from a single image information.
 45. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 44, wherein the polarities ofthe data voltages applied to the first and second subpixels are invertedfor every row of pixels.
 46. The liquid crystal display apparatus ofclaim 44, wherein the polarities of the data voltages applied to thefirst and second subpixels are inverted for every column of pixels. 47.The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 44, wherein the pluralityof data lines includes first and second data lines connected to thefirst and second subpixels, respectively.
 48. The liquid crystal displayapparatus of claim 47, wherein the first and second data lines for eachpixel are disposed at opposite sides of each pixel.
 49. The liquidcrystal display apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first and second datalines for each pixel are disposed at a same side of each pixel.
 50. Theliquid crystal display apparatus of claim 47, wherein one of the firstand second data lines is disposed between the first and second subpixelsof each pixel.